Case unloader



K. O. BURKE CASE UNLOADER Dec. 6, 1966 f 1 ml-v m W .w m IIYLI, w m w.mn.u ,0, 3. M l@ M 4. m W w m NiMh/M W@ TU .0. SUS. .0.

Filed July 8, 1965 Dec. 6, 1966 K. o. BURKE 3,289,867

CASE UNLOADER Filed July 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Om N \&\1 N

Dec. 6, 1966 K. o. BURKE 3,289,867

CASE UNLOADER Filed July 8, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ,Kf//fff/aa/5 BY a 4 Mu K. O. BURKE CASE UNLOADER Dec. 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed July 8, 1965 INVENTOR.

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3,289,867 CASE UNLADER Kenneth 0. Burke, San Leandro, Calif., assignerto @Wens-lilinois lne., a corporation of Ohio Filed .idly 8, 1965, Ser.No. 470,529 7 Claims. (Cl. 21d-309) My invention relates to caseunloaders and has for an important object the provision of novelmechanical means for removing bottles from cell-type or other cases,without interrupting the normal advancing travel of the cases along aconveyor and depositing the uncased bottles upright upon a conveyorwhich may transport the bottles to any preselected point, for washing,lling, etc.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of novelmechanism facilitating rapid easy adjustment of the uncaser, as may berequired from time to time, because of differences in the diameter and/or height of the bottles being handled. lt should `be readily recognizedthat job change time is a most important factor and in the absence ofsome simple reliable means for adjusting an uncaser to accommodatebottles of various height and/or diameter, it would be imperative toprovide one or more standby machines, each designed to handle a specicsize of bottle. That, of course, would be a most uneconomical practice.My invention, however, completely avoids the need for any such standbymachines and permits ready adjustment of the machine, as required, in amatter of minutes, and, if need be, without shutting7 down theoperation.

f tes Patent O It is also an object of my invention to provide aplurality of pairs of cooperating, endless, bottle neck gripping beltswhich grasp between them the necks of advancing bottles, while stillcased, such belts being inclined in the direction of their length andfunctioning to elevate bottles from advancing cases, there being noveleffective means for quickly adjusting the belts as variations in thebottle dimensions may dictate.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of novel meansfor adjusting the spacing between adjacent pairs of bottle graspingbelts or bands, as may be required, by either or both the spacing apartof the longitudinal rows of bottles in the cases, or, perhaps,variations in the height of the bottles.

Finally, it is an important object of my invention to provide simple,effective means for insuring complete separation of the bottles from thecases and placement of the bottles upright in parallel longitudinal rowsupon a continuously moving horizontal conveyor, while depositing theempty cases upon an inclined conveyor for delivery to a preselectedstation.

Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed outhereinafter.

Ln the accompanying drawings for-ming a part of my application:

FIG. l is a Side elevational View of a bottle case unloader embodying myinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational View taken substantially along theplane of line 3 3 of FG, l;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along theplane of line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4-A is a plan view showing particularly the flared ends of one ofthe bottle grasping belt guides; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly insection, taken substantially along the plane of line 5 5 of FIG. 3.

In the illustrated embodiment of my case unloader, it is positionedbetween and in part above the discharge end of a horizontal roller-typeconveyor 1li, having an inclined empty case chute section 11, orextension, and a 3,289,867 Patented Dec. 6, 1966 ice horizontal endlessbelt conveyor 12 whose receiving end may well be directly above aportion of the inclined chute section 11. As shown, the belt conveyor 12is at a somewhat higher elevation than the roller-type conveyor 1t), forreasons which will be evident. Cases 13 of upright bottles 14,positioned in conventional cells created by dividers 15 or partitions,are advanced in succession along the roller-type conveyor 10 until theyreach the uncaser 16. Here the bottles are, or may be, shiftedlaterally, if necessary, to pre-position them for entry into the uncaserproper. Thereupon, with continued advance of a case 13, the longitudinalrows of bottles 1d are lifted out of their .case cells successively andadvance along an inclined path while other means positively strips thecases from the bottles so that these cases fall Iby gravity onto thepreviously mentioned chute section 11. These bottles 14- then aredeposited upright upon the belt conveyor 12. Because of job changes,from time to time, necessitated for the reasons explained above, lmyuncaser 16 incorporates simple means for changing both the elevation ofthe uncaser and the lateral spacing apart of the bottle lifting means,all without interrupting operation of the machine, if that is important,or desirable, but in any event, in a matter of a few minutes time. Thusthe down time of the uncaser for the purposes of adjustment is held toan absolute minimum.

The uncaser 1d is mounted upon an inclined supporting fra-me 17,comprising upright corner posts 18 and longitudinal connector rails 19.Well above t-hese rails 19 are the major uncaser elements, such beingmounted upon a vertically adjustable inclined carrier frame 20, whichcomprises (FlGS. 1 and 2) a pair of parallel spaced apart side bars 21,interconnected at intervals by transverse bars 22, or angle irons,certain of which perfonm other functions, as will be evident presently.Vertical adjustment of this frame is Obtained by means of racks 23, oneat each corner of the frame 2i?, these racks meshing with pinions 24.These pinions are arranged in pairs at each end of the frame 2t?, therelbeing a transverse horizontal shaft 25 carrying each such pair ofpinions. At one side of the frame 2h each horizontal shaft 25 isextended a short distance and carries a worm gear 26 meshing with anddrivable by a worm (not shown), the latter mounted upon the ends of alongitudinal shaft 27 eX- tending alongside the frame 2t) and journaledin bearings 28. Rotation of this shaft 27 to raise or lower the framethrough the rack and pinion devices, is obtained by means of a -handcrank 29 and sprockets 3@ over which a powertransmitting chain 31 istrained, one of the sprockets 3l! being mounted upon the shaft 27. Thus,with rotation of the crank 29, the entire uncaser frame and elementscarried thereby and to be described presently, may be raised or lowered,with ease, to accommodate bottles of different height.

Preparatory to actual physical engagement with the uncasing elements, itis imperative that the bottles 14 be positioned accurately, if they arenot already so arranged, for entry between endless, flexible,neck-grasping belts or bands, as will be apparent presently. For thispurpose (FIGS. l and 2) a transverse series of parallel spaced aparthorizontal deector guide lingers 32 extend lengthwise over the rollerconveyor 10 at the entrance to the uncaser. Each of these fingers (FIGS.1 and 2) is mounted for independent transverse adjustment by reason ofits being suspended from a pair of horizontal, spaced-apart parallelcross-lbars 33. To this end, each iinger or guide 32 may well besuspended from the crossbars 33 by a screw 34 extending downwardlybetween the Ibars 33 throug-h a washer 35 and collar 36, with its lowerend screw-threaded into the corresponding guide finger 32. Thus theguide fingers 32 may quite easily be adjusted, so that if necessary, thelongitudinal rows of bottles, while still in their cases, and moving tothe uncaser, will be shifted laterally slightly, to insure entry oftheir necks into the spaces between the pairs of bottle grasping andelevating belts or bands 37, these being the devices which remove theIbottles from the cases and transfer them to upright positions upon thebelt conveyor 12.

The uncaser itself comprises the transverse series of spaced apart pairsof endless flexible belts 37, or bands, 'with each pair of belts beingtrained over a pair of pulleys 38 at the entrance or righthand end ofthe uncaser (FIG. 2) and .a pair of pulleys 39 at the discharge end.Each pair of pulleys 38 at the entrance end is mounted on a short stubshaft 40, these pulleys being spaced apart on the shaft by collars 41.At the opposite or discharge end, the pulleys 39 also are arranged inpairs on a common transverse horizontal shaft 42, one end of whichsupports a driven sprocket 43, or pulley. Power is transmitted to thissprocket 43 from a motor M through a speed reduction gear unit 44 andapulley 45, there being a belt 46, or chain, trained over the sprocket43, or pulley and the pulley 45. Thus, the several bottle grasping belts37 are driven.

In order to bring each pair of belts 37 or bands into firm holdingengagement with diametrically opposed sides of the bottle necks, theirlower working reaches are confined in inverted generally U-shaped orchannel guides 47, extending lengthwise of the uncaser and having bottomlianges 48 to slidingly support the belts 37. These guides 47 have theirinlet and discharge ends flared (FIG. 4A) to facilitate grasping andrelease of the bottles, as is obvious.

Independent adjustment of each of the pairs of pulleys 38 at theentrance end of the uncaser, to align a pair of belts 37 with the centerof a row of incoming bottles 14, is obtained by mechanism substantiallyas will now be described. Four longitudinal, inclined belt guidesupporting arms 49, or bars, are connected at intervals by screws 50 andspacer pads 51, to the upper side of the channel guides 47 for the belts37. These arms 49 at the end nearest the belt conveyor 12 (FIG. 2) arepivoted to vertical pins 2 carried by one of the cross-bars 22. Thispivot point is iixed so that uncased bottles 14 will be placed uprightin longitudinal rows spaced apart transversely of the belt conveyor,irrespective of the bottle diameter. The other end of each arm 49,however, is connected to one of .the collars 41 or spacers between apair of the pulleys 38 or sheaves. Each such pair of pulleys 38 isindependently shiftable laterally or axially, so as to be properlypositioned to permit ready entry of the bottle necks between the pairsof grasping belts 37. The precise positioning of the pairs of pulleys isdetermined by the setting of the guide fingers 32 just above the cases13 and they are shiftable in pairs.

To this end the two outermost pendent fingers 53 (FIGS. 3 and 4) havecollars 54 screw-threaded upon a horizontal transverse adjusting rod 55,which is journaled in bearings 56 on the frame 21. The lower end ofthese lingers carry a pair of pins 57 which straddle the outermost arms49. By rotating the hand crank 58 on one end of the rod 55, the pendentfingers 53 and therefore the corresponding arms 49, may be shiftedhorizontally as desired and thereby determine the precise position ofthe inlet end of the bottle grasping belts. The center pair of arms aresimilarly, but separately or independently adjustable and to this end asecond threaded adjusting rod 59 (FIG. 2) is mounted in bearings 60.Pendent lingers 61 having collars 62 threaded on the rod 59 are providedwith pins 63 straddling the arms 49. Thus, with rotation of the secondadjusting screw rod 59, the innermost pair of arms and supported beltguides 47, can be adjusted as desired. A hand-crank 64 is operable torotate the rod 59. It will be observed that the four 4 arms 49 or barsextend through suitable guides 65 beneath one of the cross-bars 22.

To insure complete separation, or stripping, of the cases 13 from thebottles above the inclined chute section, a pair of horizontal stripperrods 66 (FIGS. l, 3, and 4) suspended from vertically adjustable arms 67carried by the uncaser frame, extend longitudinally of the uncaser at anelevation to overlie the cases and to extend between rows of bottles 14being removed from the cases. Thus, as the cases advance and the bottlesare elevated, the stripper rods, as is evident, prevent the cases fromrising with the bottles being elevated. Consequently, the cases fallonto the inclined chute section 11.

Operation of the uncaser and the importance of and procedure involved inadjusting the positions of the bottle grasping belts are believed to beabundantly clear and fully explained in the above descriptive matter.

Modications may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a case unloader for removing upright bottles arranged in parallelrows in a case with neck portions protruding above the case, thecombination of a horizontal conveyor for bringing bottle containingcases to the unloader, an inclined chute extension of said conveyorbeneath the unloader, a horizontal conveyor beyond the unloader uponwhich the latter places uncased bottles upright in longitudinal rows,driven endless pairs of bottle neck grasping belts having workingreaches moving along inclined paths to elevate bottles from the case,striping means for positively separating the case from the bottles beingelevated and causing the case to be deposited by gravity upon saidinclined chute extension, an elongated inclined armvsupporting each pairof said belts, each arm pivoted near its upper end for lateral movementabout such pivot relative to the conveyor, and means at the lower end ofthe arms for supporting and moving them on their pivots thereby to varythe lateral spaced relationship of their lower ends.

2. In an unloader as defined in claim 1, the endless belts beingarranged as a plurality of pairs of cooperating belts lying in a commoninclined plane.

3. In an unloader for removing upright bottles arranged in parallel rowsin a case with neck portions protruding above the case, bottle elevatingmeans comprising an elongated inclined frame, a plurality of side byside pairs of endless flexible neck grasping belts extending lengthwiseof the frame in a common inclined plane, each pair of belts having lowerworking reaches for bottle neck engagement, an elongated invertedchannellike guide housingthe working reaches of a pair of the belts, asupporting arm for each guide extending lengthwise of and secured to thelatter, means pivoting an end ot each arm to the upper end of the framefor movement laterally of said frame, a plurality of upper pairs ofpulleys on a horizontal axis near the pivots and over each pair of whichpulleys two of the bottle grasping belts are trained, a plurality oflower pairs of pulleys on a common horizontal axis at the lower end ofthe frame 'and over which said belts are trained, means for moving thearms' on their pivots and thereby adjusting the relative positions ofthe lower pairs of pulleys across the frame to align pairs of thegrasping belts with rows of bottles in the cases, and means forpositively driving the upper pairs of pulleys.

4. In an unloader as defined in claim 3, there being stripping means forholding the cases against elevation with the bottles being unloaded.

5. In an unloader as defined in claim 3, the means for moving the armscomprising a pendent finger engaging each arm near the lower pulleys andmanually operable means for shifting the lingers in a directiongenerally across the frame.

6. In an unloader as defined in claim 3, the means for moving the armscomprising a pendent finger engaging each arm near the lower pulleys, athreaded adjusting rod extending transversely of the frame above saidngers, collars threaded on the rod and connected to the pendent ngers,and means for rotating the rod.

7. In an unloader as defined in `claim 3, the means for moving the armscomprising a pendent nger engaging each arm, there being one pair ofsuch fingers spaced longitudinally of the frame from another like pairof fingers, a horizontal transverse threaded adjusting rod for each pairof ngers, collars threaded on the rods and connected to the fingers, andmeans for rotating the rods.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Copping 214-309Davis 214-309 Thurman 214-309 X Craig 198-34 X HUGO O. SCHULZ, PrimaryExaminer,

1. IN A CASE UNLOADER FOR REMOVING UPRIGHT BOTTLES ARRANGED IN PARALLELROWS IN A CASE WITH NECK PORTIONS PROTRUDING ABOVE THE CASE, THECOMBINATION OF A HORIZONTAL CONVYOR FOR BRINGING BOTTLE CONTAINING CASESTO THE UNLOADER, AND INCLINED CHUTE EXTENSION OF SAID CONVEYOR BENEATHTHE UNLOADER, A HORIZONTAL CONVEYOR BEYOND THE UNLOADER UPON WHICH THELATTER PLACES UNCASED BOTTLES UPRIGHT IN LONGITUDINAL ROWS, DRIVENENDLESS PAIRS OF BOTTLE NECK GRASPING BELTS HAVING WORKING REACHESMOVING ALONG INCLINED PATHS TO ELEVATE BOTTLES FROM THE CASE, STRIPINGMEANS FOR POSITIVELY SEPARATING THE CASE FROM THE BOTTLES BEING ELEVATEDAND CAUSING THE CASE TO BE DEPOSITED BY GRAVITY UPON SAID INCLINED CHUTEEXTENSION, AN ELONGATED INCLINED ARM SUPPORTING EACH PAIR OF SAID BELTS,EACH ARM PIVOTED NEAR ITS UPPER END FOR LATERAL MOVEMENT ABOUT SUCHPIVOT RELATIVE TO THE CONVEYOR, AND MEANS AT THE LOWER END OF THE ARMSFOR SUPPORTING AND MOVING THEM ON THEIR PIVOTS THEREBY TO VARY THELATERAL SPACED RELATIONSHIP OF THEIR LOWER ENDS.